Signs, signs, everywhere a sign

Certified letters will be sent to business owners whose patrons use the municipal parking lot on Water Street, off Main Street, warning them the lot is not exclusively for them.

Acting on a recommendation from the town Traffic Committee, selectmen Wednesday night voted unanimously to warn businesses, and put a “public parking” sign with “no overnight parking” added.

The board also voted to put a stop sign at New Harbor Road and Pine Street, to prevent more cars from careening into a yellow house on Pine Street.

Town Administrator Michael Ward said the homeowner is unable to get insurance because of the accidents, and cannot erect his own barriers because his lot is too close to town property.

Selectmen Mary Rose Dickhaut and William Connolly questioned the usefulness of putting a stop sign there, and requested the measure be re-evaluated in a year.

“It’s just an unusual place for a stop sign,” Dickhaut said, asking if the crashes took place at night.

A guard rail with reflective material will also be put up at the corner.

Communication issues

Ward told the board ongoing problems with town fire department communication equipment have been not resolved with the hiring of a consultant, who examined the system for two days last month.

Describing the situation as frustrating, Ward and board members said the consultant’s report was full of difficult to understand technical jargon, and has no conclusions about what should be done.

In the fall, a group of firefighters met with selectmen about safety risks caused by portable radios that don’t work in certain parts of town, and problems with radio frequencies in general. They said Fire Chief Richard Hart’s attempts to rectify the situation had not worked.

Ward said Hart has since sent out all portable radios for repairs, but problems remain.

The only real conclusion in the consultant’s report calls for replacing antennae on a water tower on Burditt Hill, slated to be torn down, with antennae on a new, lower, 40-foot communication tower.

Meanwhile, the firefighters requested another meeting with selectmen. Dickhaut, Connolly, and Chairman Michael Dziokonski said they do not want to spend money on new equipment or repairs until the underlying problem is figured out.

Budgets

In budget matters, Ward said fiscal 2014 budget proposals have been received from most town departments, with the exception of the School Department.

According to a letter from the Finance Committee to the School Department — a second notice — the budget was due in Ward’ s office by Feb. 15.

Ward said town officials need to take a look at school choice students opting to leave Clinton for other districts. He said there are large fluctuations in the amount of money paid to other districts. For example, he said the town reported $918,000 was paid in fiscal 2013, which ended June 30, but the state “cherry sheet” reported $1.2 million. Five years ago, Ward said, the amount paid was $500,000.

In other business

•The board approved a food license for Dunkin’ Donuts, which will move from Woodruff Plaza across the street to the former KFC/Taco Bell, at 1044 Main St.

•Selectmen approved food licenses for Jitrada Aramphong, a new owner of Thai Time on Church Street; David Garrison, of Burditt Hill Market for the Seafood Deli and More, 610 Main St.; and for Celeste DeLeon and Juliana Henriquez, for Home Varieties and More, a bargain department store featuring vegan items, at 130 High St., near Oxford Court.

•The board met with Bob Latini and Gloria Parkinson of the Clinton Alternative Energy Committee about the future purchasing of renewable solar energy.

•Selectmen voted unanimously to move the annual town election ahead three weeks, to June 25, so it will coincide with the special election for a new U.S. senator to replace John F. Kerry.

•Ward said there are vacancies on the town’s Personnel Board, which only has one member seated member; and the Recycling Committee. There are also vacant seats on the Zoning Board of Appeals, Conservation Commission, Historical Commission and Fuller Field Commission